Tropic Bay Water Gardens Plans Annual Koi Festival

From Global Media Max: Tropic Bay Water Gardens, the largest aquatic garden center on the East Coast, will host the 15th annual Spring Spectacular Pond, Water Garden, and Koi Festival in Davidsonville on April 22 and 23, 2017. Admission is free.

The festival features 3,000 Japanese koi, domestic koi, and goldfish and 100 varieties of aquatic plants amid 4.5 acres of ponds, fountains, sculptures, bird baths, and garden art. Visitors will be able to get expert tips on koi keeping and backyard ponds from noted international expert Taro Kodama. Kodama is President of the famous Kodama Koi Farm of Mililani, Hawaii, the largest importer of show-quality koi from breeders in Japan.

"Koi is living art, living jewels,” says Taro Kodama, who is a koi expert and dealer. “The more you feed them, the more you care, the more they will grow. The beauty actually grows in your pond. In order to raise healthy koi, you must feed them high-quality food and know some tips on how to improve their health, color, and pond water quality.”

In addition, backyard pond expert Trey Smith, East Coast Manager for Airmax, Crystal Clear, and Pond Magic, and Stephen Koza, President and CEO of Tropic Bay Water Gardens, will answer questions about pond construction, maintenance, and filtration.

The festival will reveal a new collection of prized koi from Japan’s top breeders. The public is welcome to come and gaze at these hand-picked, show-quality koi specimens – some as long as 30 inches -- and learn about the hobby of koi keeping. Pond hobbyists can also find special deals as well as advice. Door prizes will be awarded.

With an average life span of 77 years, these beautiful Japanese and North American koi in shades of gold, pearl, and coral are increasingly popular in the U.S., which is the largest ornamental fish market. They are hardy and adapt to seasonal changes.

The festival is a great opportunity for families to enjoy the spring weather while admiring these gorgeous creatures in scenic backyard landscapes and learn more about this fascinating hobby.

Photo courtesy of Global Media Max